CLUSTER BASED COMMUNICATION

摘要

A method of a wireless communication device comprised in a cluster of devices is disclosed. The devices of the cluster are associable with a cluster subscription identifier of a subscription providing communication between a network node and the cluster (based on a single identifier associated with the cluster) when one or more of the devices are in a cluster communication mode. The wireless communication device may have one of a cluster communication gateway role and a cluster internal communication role. The cluster communication gateway role comprises transmitting a cluster communication beacon signal, maintaining a communication link to the network node, and maintaining peer-to-peer communication links to the other devices of the cluster. The cluster internal communication role comprises maintaining at least a peer-to-peer communication link to a specific device having the cluster communication gateway role. A received signal is scanned for a beacon signal and (if the beacon signal is found) it is determined, based on the cluster subscription identifier, whether the beacon signal is associated with the subscription. If the beacon signal is associated with the subscription, the identity of the specific device is determined based on the beacon signal, a cluster communication attach request is transmitted to the specific device, and a cluster communication attach response is received from the specific device. If the cluster communication attach response comprises a cluster communication attach acknowledgement, the wireless communication device transfers to the cluster communication mode and assumes the cluster internal communication role.